Any recommendations for a complete tool kit?
Something like this?
Something like this?
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Last Call Guest on these Group Buy Deal Items from Baja Designs
AR tool kit
- Thread starter BUCKLAND
- Start date
Don.
Radioactive member.
In my own experience, just get what you need as you need it when it’s on sale. I have less than half the **** that’s in that set and I’ve assembled complete rifles/pistols from top to bottom. I’ve yet to use a torque wrench when barreling an upper, fwiw. The set looks like it doesn’t have a clamshell for the upper for barrel assembly.
aron82
Well-known member
You really only need a reaction rod and armor's wrench. Basic punch set. Brass and plastic non marring hammer is nice.
Aisin
Grumpy old ****
- Joined
- May 19, 2020
- Messages
- 3,278
Correct. I’ve put 10 or 11 ARs together with nothing but a few punches a hammer and a crescent wrench for the barrel nut. The fanciest AR tools I own is the roll pin starter punches and a Magpul Bev block to hold the receivers.
FrankenToy
Cynically skeptical...
- Joined
- Aug 6, 2020
- Messages
- 664
While others declare only the minimum of tools, I have found that this little gizmo is VERY helpful in assembly:
I also have a Magpul wrench and just a set of gunsmithing punches and have assembled more AR's than I can count on all my fingers.
*Never used a torque wrench, either....
I also have a Magpul wrench and just a set of gunsmithing punches and have assembled more AR's than I can count on all my fingers.
*Never used a torque wrench, either....
aron82
Well-known member
I use a torque wrench, but it's such a broad range, it's pretty irrelevant.
Gumbybronco
Well-known member
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- Jan 3, 2022
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- 745
I really like these
store.fixitsticks.com
Portable, Precise, High-Performance Tools | Fix It Sticks
Fix It Sticks makes the portable, precise, high-performance modular tools you need to keep your firearms, bicycles and other gear running in the field.
store.fixitsticks.com
- Joined
- Sep 9, 2021
- Messages
- 6,581
Damn near $300 for that?
I bet you already own the majority of the tools you need to work on one
I widdled down a 1x4 (wood) to fit in the mag well one time so I could hold one on a vise. I have also squeezed in the roll pins with channel locks. I’d recommend some tape on the jaws so you don’t scratch the aluminum. The magpul wrench is nice though.
Lee
Guild of Calamitous Intent
Here's my piecemeal collection rundown:
Tapco Multitool (Armorers Wrench) - Midway says it's discontinued, it's the best one I've used, I found it in stock elsewhere for $80, but I don't think it's worth that price considering the other options on the market. I have/had an ADE from Amazon and it sucked, castle nut section was too big.
I really like these AR Stoner Roll Pin Starter Punches from Midway. I've got a cheap set from Amazon but these are superior to my cheap ones in every way.
I've got a couple of Aero lowers that use a bolt for the mag catch instead of a pin, and don't think I'm ever to go back to a pin style again. That alleviates the biggest reason for a starter punch, at least for me. Still handy to have the starter punches.
Wheeler punch and hammer set - All of the small punches have a little bend/banana shape to them now. The hammer is usually enough, but I've added a manlier sized non marring hammer to my kit.
Eastwing 12 oz Rubber Mallet - When the hammer in the Wheeler kit isn't quit skookum enough.
Wheeler FAT Wrench torque wrench - not usually necessary for most AR stuff, maybe the occasional free float handguard, but handy for scope rings and the like.
AR Stoner Vice Block Kit - I've built plenty with some card board or rags in as impromptu soft jaws in my bench vice, but this is handy.
Not necessarily dedicated to "Gunsmithing," I've upped my punch game over the years.
Irwin 6 piece kit - may not be this exact set, but similar, I like how long they are.
Astro Pneumatic Tool 1600 - 16 piece punch and chisel set
Matco SPC6PA - 6 piece punch and chisel set, I got these slightly used on eBay for ~$40
Also not necessarily dedicated to "Gunsmithing"
Craftsman 20 Piece, SAE & Metric, Long, Ball Nose, Hex, Sockets - great for lots of non gun things, but really nice for AR pistol grip bolts. That's an eBay link to that kit, but it's the exact set I bought in Feb of '23, same seller, same link. I'm not sure that's an official Cratsman set, I think it's someone selling a bunch of individual sockets as a set. I haven't shopped around lately, but I recall it being the best "name brand" deal when I bought.
I've given "AR build kits" to buddies just getting into the hobby (mostly because of me) as Christmas presents over the year, mostly the essentials:
Same Midway roll pin starter punches as above.
Amazon Chinesium non marring mallet - cheaper alternative to the Eastwing mallet
AR Stoner Armorer's Wrench
Griffin Armament Armorer's Wrench - cheaper alternative to the AR Stoner
AR Stoner Vise Block
AR Stoner Critical Parts Kit - Usually include some kind of "oops kit," even after building/modding several, I've still had detent springs disappear through an invisible dimensional gateway to another universe.
Tapco Multitool (Armorers Wrench) - Midway says it's discontinued, it's the best one I've used, I found it in stock elsewhere for $80, but I don't think it's worth that price considering the other options on the market. I have/had an ADE from Amazon and it sucked, castle nut section was too big.
I really like these AR Stoner Roll Pin Starter Punches from Midway. I've got a cheap set from Amazon but these are superior to my cheap ones in every way.
I've got a couple of Aero lowers that use a bolt for the mag catch instead of a pin, and don't think I'm ever to go back to a pin style again. That alleviates the biggest reason for a starter punch, at least for me. Still handy to have the starter punches.
Wheeler punch and hammer set - All of the small punches have a little bend/banana shape to them now. The hammer is usually enough, but I've added a manlier sized non marring hammer to my kit.
Eastwing 12 oz Rubber Mallet - When the hammer in the Wheeler kit isn't quit skookum enough.
Wheeler FAT Wrench torque wrench - not usually necessary for most AR stuff, maybe the occasional free float handguard, but handy for scope rings and the like.
AR Stoner Vice Block Kit - I've built plenty with some card board or rags in as impromptu soft jaws in my bench vice, but this is handy.
Not necessarily dedicated to "Gunsmithing," I've upped my punch game over the years.
Irwin 6 piece kit - may not be this exact set, but similar, I like how long they are.
Astro Pneumatic Tool 1600 - 16 piece punch and chisel set
Matco SPC6PA - 6 piece punch and chisel set, I got these slightly used on eBay for ~$40
Also not necessarily dedicated to "Gunsmithing"
Craftsman 20 Piece, SAE & Metric, Long, Ball Nose, Hex, Sockets - great for lots of non gun things, but really nice for AR pistol grip bolts. That's an eBay link to that kit, but it's the exact set I bought in Feb of '23, same seller, same link. I'm not sure that's an official Cratsman set, I think it's someone selling a bunch of individual sockets as a set. I haven't shopped around lately, but I recall it being the best "name brand" deal when I bought.
I've given "AR build kits" to buddies just getting into the hobby (mostly because of me) as Christmas presents over the year, mostly the essentials:
Same Midway roll pin starter punches as above.
Amazon Chinesium non marring mallet - cheaper alternative to the Eastwing mallet
AR Stoner Armorer's Wrench
Griffin Armament Armorer's Wrench - cheaper alternative to the AR Stoner
AR Stoner Vise Block
AR Stoner Critical Parts Kit - Usually include some kind of "oops kit," even after building/modding several, I've still had detent springs disappear through an invisible dimensional gateway to another universe.
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RunningProblem
Neurologically Spicy
- Joined
- Sep 12, 2020
- Messages
- 3,148
If you're not swapping barrels or building uppers you won't need a vice block and if you don't have the clamshell Style handguards you won't need one of the tools in the kit.
You will want a roll pin punch set if you're building a lower. You won't need everything in the kit to build a lower. I've built plenty without owning a $300 kit.
An armor's wrench will be handy if you're building an upper.
If you bought it at the store and just plan on swapping out hand guards for free float rails you might need a few tools. Otherwise you probably own most of what you need.
You will want a roll pin punch set if you're building a lower. You won't need everything in the kit to build a lower. I've built plenty without owning a $300 kit.
An armor's wrench will be handy if you're building an upper.
If you bought it at the store and just plan on swapping out hand guards for free float rails you might need a few tools. Otherwise you probably own most of what you need.
Toreadorranger
Atomic Test Lab Rat
I use the following, plus any misc normal hand tools needed such as torque wrench, picks, allens, ect.
And dont forget a 1/4" clevis pin for installing the front pivot pin.
Real Avid Punch and Hammer Set
Real Avid Bench Block
Wheeler Upper Action Rod
Real Avid Vise Block
realavid.com
Magpul Armorers Wrench
And dont forget a 1/4" clevis pin for installing the front pivot pin.
Real Avid Punch and Hammer Set
Real Avid Bench Block
Amazon.com : Real Avid Smart Bench Block - Universal Armorers Block Made with Non-Marring Materials, Non-Slip Bench Block For Glock, 1911 & Other Guns : Sports & Outdoors
Amazon.com : Real Avid Smart Bench Block - Universal Armorers Block Made with Non-Marring Materials, Non-Slip Bench Block For Glock, 1911 & Other Guns : Sports & Outdoors
www.amazon.com
Wheeler Upper Action Rod
Real Avid Vise Block
Smart-Fit® AR15 Vise Block
Adjustable magwell block fits MIL-SPEC AR15s Expands to provide secure, tight fit Works with any standard bench vise Creates solid platform for maintenance/building Designed for stable, secure firearm support
realavid.com
Magpul Armorers Wrench
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